George R. Stewart (1895–1980)
Author of Earth Abides
About the Author
George R. Stewart (1895-1980) was a professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley
Works by George R. Stewart
Names on the Land: A Historical Account of Place-Naming in the United States (1945) 664 copies, 15 reviews
American place-names; a concise and selective dictionary for the continental United States of America (1970) 85 copies
American Given Names: Their Origin and History in the Context of the English Language (1986) 61 copies, 1 review
The year of the oath; the fight for academic freedom at the University of California (1971) 19 copies
Take your Bible in one hand; the life of William Henry Thomes, author of A whaleman's adventures on land and sea, Lewey (1939) 8 copies
Unterwegs in die Welt von Morgen 116 : George R. Stewart - Leben ohne Ende / Eric Frank Russell - Störfaktor (1990) 7 copies, 1 review
N. A. 1 - The North-South Continental Highway - Looking South - From the Mexican Border to Costa Rica (1957) 5 copies
John Phoenix, ESQ., The Veritable Squibob: A Life of Captain George H. Derby (1969) 5 copies, 1 review
Doctor's oral 5 copies
Good lives 3 copies
A bibliography of the writings of Bret Harte in the magazines and newspapers of California, 1857-1871 (1977) 1 copy
Names of the Land 1 copy
La terra sull'abisso 1 copy
Diary of Patrick Breen. 1 copy
Associated Works
A Sense of History: The Best Writing from the Pages of American Heritage (1985) — Contributor — 490 copies, 4 reviews
Reader's Digest Best of the West: A Treasury of Western Adventure Volumes 1 & 2 (1976) — Contributor — 38 copies
Reader's Digest Best of the West: A Treasury of Western Adventure Volume 1 (1975) — Contributor — 12 copies
Recollections of Old Times in California or, California Life in 1843 (1974) — Introduction — 5 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Stewart, George R.
- Legal name
- Stewart, George Rippey, Jr.
- Birthdate
- 1895-05-31
- Date of death
- 1980-08-22
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Princeton University (BA|1917)
University of California, Berkeley (MA|1920)
Columbia University (PhD|English literature|1922) - Occupations
- historian
toponymist
novelist
professor of English - Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley
American Name Society - Awards and honors
- International Fantasy Award (1951)
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Sewickley, Pennsylvania, USA
- Places of residence
- Berkeley, California, USA
- Place of death
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Map Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
Members
Discussions
George R Stewart's Earth Abides in Post-apocalyptic Literature (July 2010)
Reviews
Gosh this is a hard book to review and rate. There is constant jabber about ‘genre-bending’ works of fiction, I rarely find them genre-bending. Sheep Rock is an exception, although whether it is a successful case is another matter. The book is equal parts fiction, natural history, and philosophy, which coming from someone as erudite as Stewart should be a good thing. Later on in his life, Stewart looked back without fondness on Sheep Rock believing it to be a failed novel (See Donald show more Scott’s The Life and Truth of George R. Stewart), and I can understand why he felt that way. A better way to see this book is as a philosophy book with parables and supporting tales. In this sense it is truly genre-bending.
If someone was to pick up Sheep Rock hoping for a novel in the form of Storm, Earth Abides, or Fire the reader would be disappointed. This is a book about a specific place spanning time for generations, not about a specific plot. While these stories do drive home specific points of philosophy, they also reinforce the durability of place against human time. Themes, thoughts, and objects are constantly repeated and reinforced, which give the book a very strong aura of time and place as being both resistant to change and as repetitive. In a sense, its easy to say that the landscape has an effect on human activities, but Stewart makes sure that you can have absolutely no lingering doubts whatsoever about the immutability of this truth. In this sense, all the fictional stories of the book are subject to the philosophy, being relegated to the role of illustration.
Sheep Rock is not a fun read per se. It is dense, dry, repetitive, and at times alternately bland or exasperating. Our main character, Geoffrey, a poet with a fellowship who lives out his term at the eponymous locale, is self-absorbed, unnecessarily convoluted, and above all things, a bad poet. I was not a fan of him as a character, however, as an way to push forward Stewart’s philosophy, he worked. I found the other plots and stories much more interesting, if at times distracting.
If you class Sheep Rock as a book that illustrates philosophy, it works. As a novel it does not. Does the philosophy conveyed make Sheep Rock worth reading? Yes, although, I won’t go back to it hoping to be gripped to pages. Go in expecting to see how time and place affect Stewart’s mind and thoughts and you’ll be fine. show less
If someone was to pick up Sheep Rock hoping for a novel in the form of Storm, Earth Abides, or Fire the reader would be disappointed. This is a book about a specific place spanning time for generations, not about a specific plot. While these stories do drive home specific points of philosophy, they also reinforce the durability of place against human time. Themes, thoughts, and objects are constantly repeated and reinforced, which give the book a very strong aura of time and place as being both resistant to change and as repetitive. In a sense, its easy to say that the landscape has an effect on human activities, but Stewart makes sure that you can have absolutely no lingering doubts whatsoever about the immutability of this truth. In this sense, all the fictional stories of the book are subject to the philosophy, being relegated to the role of illustration.
Sheep Rock is not a fun read per se. It is dense, dry, repetitive, and at times alternately bland or exasperating. Our main character, Geoffrey, a poet with a fellowship who lives out his term at the eponymous locale, is self-absorbed, unnecessarily convoluted, and above all things, a bad poet. I was not a fan of him as a character, however, as an way to push forward Stewart’s philosophy, he worked. I found the other plots and stories much more interesting, if at times distracting.
If you class Sheep Rock as a book that illustrates philosophy, it works. As a novel it does not. Does the philosophy conveyed make Sheep Rock worth reading? Yes, although, I won’t go back to it hoping to be gripped to pages. Go in expecting to see how time and place affect Stewart’s mind and thoughts and you’ll be fine. show less
Brian Aldiss coined the term "cozy catastrophe" about John Wyndham's work. It being an end of the world event where the character doesn't suffer enough or there's not always impending doom right at the door. In Earth Abides, the main character, Ish, is bedridden throughout the entire apocalypse. Then we follow him when he is clear-headed. No zombies. No aliens. No evil government stooges.
Ish isn't a scientist or a doctor, or a superhuman soldier; he's just a slightly more intelligent person show more who understands the present and the importance the future holds. Along the way he picks up a few group of survivors. The dynamic of the group is something that is interesting as we see a small society form. Within this, Ish becomes a defacto leader and the idealist - but an idealist who has reality smack into him several times, especially when it concerns other people. While you do get a semblance of others actions and reasons, we are constantly following Ish and his internal dialogue. Society is gone and all that remains are the remains.
But now children come into the mix. Society is still in struggle within their group. Ish wants to build the children to take over and remember the times before and achieve order once again. But what does order and society look like when you only have less than a dozen people who existed in the "before times".
There are some amazing juxopositions in this book as well. Ish takes a wife, Emma, names that have origin towards "Adam" and "Eve". We see the story starts out with Ish (Adam) being bitten by a snake and then he's thrust out into a world of disorder but also the Earth continues. Within this, there is small discussions of religion as in Ish is not religious and views it as a distraction from the unity needed among the group and focus on survival tasks. Then to double back, mythology springs up on things that for Ish are common place but for the children who only know the world after the Great Disaster become totems and exalted titles.
There's no big shootouts in this book. There's no stopping the mad bomber or brigand. It is a calm book but the tension and drama are beautifully done. The dealing with an outside stranger to the group and the impact of actions taken is such a high point. But there are little movements that are big deals and then there are big deals where you think the story will focus on but it settles into a more somber and carefree tone. It's amazing.
I almost come to think of apocalypse stories truly bringing questions of the purpose of life and humanity front and center and this one has done it the most by not focusing on the disaster but on the life and humanity. This would be an amazing book for a group discussion or reading group. I was tempted not to finish it as I saw the end coming and didn't want it to end - a sure sign of a good book. A definite recommendendation. Don't let it sit on your shelf. But if you do, the Earth Abides. Final Grade - A+ show less
Ish isn't a scientist or a doctor, or a superhuman soldier; he's just a slightly more intelligent person show more who understands the present and the importance the future holds. Along the way he picks up a few group of survivors. The dynamic of the group is something that is interesting as we see a small society form. Within this, Ish becomes a defacto leader and the idealist - but an idealist who has reality smack into him several times, especially when it concerns other people. While you do get a semblance of others actions and reasons, we are constantly following Ish and his internal dialogue. Society is gone and all that remains are the remains.
But now children come into the mix. Society is still in struggle within their group. Ish wants to build the children to take over and remember the times before and achieve order once again. But what does order and society look like when you only have less than a dozen people who existed in the "before times".
There are some amazing juxopositions in this book as well. Ish takes a wife, Emma, names that have origin towards "Adam" and "Eve". We see the story starts out with Ish (Adam) being bitten by a snake and then he's thrust out into a world of disorder but also the Earth continues. Within this, there is small discussions of religion as in Ish is not religious and views it as a distraction from the unity needed among the group and focus on survival tasks. Then to double back, mythology springs up on things that for Ish are common place but for the children who only know the world after the Great Disaster become totems and exalted titles.
There's no big shootouts in this book. There's no stopping the mad bomber or brigand. It is a calm book but the tension and drama are beautifully done. The dealing with an outside stranger to the group and the impact of actions taken is such a high point. But there are little movements that are big deals and then there are big deals where you think the story will focus on but it settles into a more somber and carefree tone. It's amazing.
I almost come to think of apocalypse stories truly bringing questions of the purpose of life and humanity front and center and this one has done it the most by not focusing on the disaster but on the life and humanity. This would be an amazing book for a group discussion or reading group. I was tempted not to finish it as I saw the end coming and didn't want it to end - a sure sign of a good book. A definite recommendendation. Don't let it sit on your shelf. But if you do, the Earth Abides. Final Grade - A+ show less
Just finished reading Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart, and have to say I was completely blown away. I have had this book on my “to be read” list for a long time and I am glad I finally picked it up. The book was originally published in 1949 and I must admit I was expecting a dated science fiction story with little connection to my experience or todays realities. I was so wrong. Not only is the book still relevant it almost seemed to speak directly to our times.
In writing this book, show more the author stripped away the meaningless detail that we all use to define our lives and instead told his story at the basic level at which all people actually live their lives, no matter the time and place. The result was a story that was just as fresh as if it had been written last year. If you want to really understand what civilization is all about, and how it relates to humankind and to our world, read this book. You will not regret it. show less
In writing this book, show more the author stripped away the meaningless detail that we all use to define our lives and instead told his story at the basic level at which all people actually live their lives, no matter the time and place. The result was a story that was just as fresh as if it had been written last year. If you want to really understand what civilization is all about, and how it relates to humankind and to our world, read this book. You will not regret it. show less
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: A disease of unparalleled destructive force has sprung up almost simultaneously in every corner of the globe, all but destroying the human race. One survivor, strangely immune to the effects of the epidemic, ventures forward to experience a world without man. What he ultimately discovers will prove far more astonishing than anything he'd either dreaded or hoped for.
My Review: Call him Isherwood. (Cause that's his name.) On a camping trip in the show more mountains, Ish gets bitten by a rattlesnake and barely survives. Clearly he can't call for help on his cell because 1) the mountains and 2) 1949. After all his sufferings, Ish drives down the mountain and finds humanity...in Los Angeles...gone. Just not there. (Oddly, there are also not heaping mounds of dead bodies everywhere...he's only been gone a week or so, and the Plague killed quick. That nit being picked, I resume.) Ish spends his time alternately looking for survivors and ruminating on the justice and inevitability of the plague:
When he stops being stunned, he sets out to contact and assess his fellow survivors. He spends a lot of the book out a-wanderin', and he picks up here and there some fellow remnants. No one is a medical research genius or a high government official or anything, thank goodness, so no one knows where this plague came from, how many are dead in other places, or any of that other stuff that pockmarks other post-apocalyptic stories I've read. I completely buy that the survivors are shocked and isolated, where I've always been hmmphy about the better-informed-character stories.
Any road, time passes, life goes on, babies are born and people die and food is grown in tune with nature. We revert, in other words, to the way things were for ~10,000 years before monoculture and factory farming. Ish ages, and the younger people without strong attachments to the pre-apocalyptic world start to think about what the meaning of life is:
If there is an apocalypse while I'm alive, I'm makin' this my post-apocalyptic mission: Disestablishing religion. Ish is my soul-brother in this regard. But as you can imagine, he's fighting a rear-guard action despite being the oldest person anyone knows, and also the last survivor of Before in the Now. Having lived through the AIDS apocalypse, some days I feel the same way.
And as it must, Death comes for Ish at last, putting an end to his moanings about the stupidity of the human race for making the same mistakes that cost us so dearly before, his pessimistic views on the sustainability of his made tribe, and his invaluable store of knowledge...despite the fact that the whippersnappers don't listen:
I suspect all of us over a Certain Age feel this way to a greater or lesser degree. Plague or no plague, Youth isn't inclined to listen to Age, and apocalypse is relative. My apocalypse...the endangerment of tree books...is youth's Bright New Dawn, bulkless environmentally sound infinite stories! Yes, I'm going, I'm going, stop pushing me!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. show less
The Publisher Says: A disease of unparalleled destructive force has sprung up almost simultaneously in every corner of the globe, all but destroying the human race. One survivor, strangely immune to the effects of the epidemic, ventures forward to experience a world without man. What he ultimately discovers will prove far more astonishing than anything he'd either dreaded or hoped for.
My Review: Call him Isherwood. (Cause that's his name.) On a camping trip in the show more mountains, Ish gets bitten by a rattlesnake and barely survives. Clearly he can't call for help on his cell because 1) the mountains and 2) 1949. After all his sufferings, Ish drives down the mountain and finds humanity...in Los Angeles...gone. Just not there. (Oddly, there are also not heaping mounds of dead bodies everywhere...he's only been gone a week or so, and the Plague killed quick. That nit being picked, I resume.) Ish spends his time alternately looking for survivors and ruminating on the justice and inevitability of the plague:
As for man, there is little reason to think that he can in the long run escape the fate of other creatures, and if there is a biological law of flux and reflux, his situation is now a highly perilous one. During ten thousand years his numbers have been on the upgrade in spite of wars, pestilences, and famines. This increase in population has become more and more rapid. Biologically, man has for too long a time been rolling an uninterrupted run of sevens.
When he stops being stunned, he sets out to contact and assess his fellow survivors. He spends a lot of the book out a-wanderin', and he picks up here and there some fellow remnants. No one is a medical research genius or a high government official or anything, thank goodness, so no one knows where this plague came from, how many are dead in other places, or any of that other stuff that pockmarks other post-apocalyptic stories I've read. I completely buy that the survivors are shocked and isolated, where I've always been hmmphy about the better-informed-character stories.
Any road, time passes, life goes on, babies are born and people die and food is grown in tune with nature. We revert, in other words, to the way things were for ~10,000 years before monoculture and factory farming. Ish ages, and the younger people without strong attachments to the pre-apocalyptic world start to think about what the meaning of life is:
If there is a God who made us and we did wrong before His eyes—as George says—at least we did wrong only because we were as God made us, and I do not think that He should set traps. Oh, you should know better than George! Let us not bring all that back into the world again—the angry God, the mean God—the one who does not tell us the rules of the game, and then strikes us when we break them. Let us not bring Him back.
If there is an apocalypse while I'm alive, I'm makin' this my post-apocalyptic mission: Disestablishing religion. Ish is my soul-brother in this regard. But as you can imagine, he's fighting a rear-guard action despite being the oldest person anyone knows, and also the last survivor of Before in the Now. Having lived through the AIDS apocalypse, some days I feel the same way.
And as it must, Death comes for Ish at last, putting an end to his moanings about the stupidity of the human race for making the same mistakes that cost us so dearly before, his pessimistic views on the sustainability of his made tribe, and his invaluable store of knowledge...despite the fact that the whippersnappers don't listen:
Then, though his sight was now very dim, he looked again at the young men. "They will commit me to the earth," he thought. "Yet I also commit them to the earth. There is nothing else by which men live. Men go and come, but earth abides."
I suspect all of us over a Certain Age feel this way to a greater or lesser degree. Plague or no plague, Youth isn't inclined to listen to Age, and apocalypse is relative. My apocalypse...the endangerment of tree books...is youth's Bright New Dawn, bulkless environmentally sound infinite stories! Yes, I'm going, I'm going, stop pushing me!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. show less
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